Big TV to Offer Live Music Concerts in High Definition

Reliance Big TV is set to introduce a new live music service at the click of a button on its Subscriber Video on Demand (SVoD) platform.

The DTH operator in association with Transmedia is bringing iConcerts, featuring over 1000 premium concerts (Santana, Dire Straits, Usher, Lady Gaga etc.) and live performances from variety of genres in standard and high definition format.

This makes Big TV the only operator to introduce this music service in India.

Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance Big TV said, "Big TV subscribers will now be able to enjoy high-quality international concerts at the click of a button. Introduction of iConcerts is yet another step in enriching our bouquet of offerings for the Indian market."

Read more » Big TV to Offer Live Music Concerts in High Definition

Big TV Launches DD Sports HD for CWG

After recently launching 13 channels during the festive season of Ganesha, Big TV has launched 7 new channels yet again.

This time with the Common Wealth Games on, the company has chosen to launch DD Sports HD ( an HD version of DD Sports), Saakshi TV channel (a Telugu News channel), Subhavartha TV ( a Telugu Religious channel), Aaseervatham TV ( a Malayalam Religious channel), Ruposhi Bangla (a Bangla Entertainment Channel) and DY 365 (a North East News channel). Pushing the total number of channels available to around 240 channels.

But unfortunately unlike other service providers big tv was charging a fee of Rs 28 for the DD Sports HD channel that is a free to air channel. Some complaints have been found on the India Broadband forum about the cost of DD Sports HD. It now seems that the company has decided to air the channel free of cost, further news is awaited.

But in a bid to broaden their subscriber base, Reliance Big TV has reduced its connection cost for a new customer to Rs 990 without a monthly subscription fee, with free installation and a Set Top Box (STB).

Read more » Big TV Launches DD Sports HD for CWG

Big TV Gears up for Ganesh, Adds 13 New Channels

Expanding its offering, Reliance BIG TV has added 13 new channels to its bouquet to take the total number to 245.

Big TV has added channels like Star Plus HD (high definition), NGC Wild, NGC Adventure, NGC Music, UFX, HM TV, Mahaa TV, Day & Night News, ETV Bihar, Polimer TV, Saam TV, Chardikla Time and Nepal One.

Umesh Rao, senior vice-president, Big TV, said, "We have added 13 new channels on the platform and going forward we plan to add significant momentum through relevant and differentiated content on Reliance Big TV."

Big TV is gearing up for Ganesh Chaturthi, starting from September 11, with several promotional activities. Recently the company tied up with Samsung to offer high-definition digital video recorder free on purchase of Samsung LED TV range.

The DTH firm will carry out in-store promotions through 450-plus outlets in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, and places where the festival is celebrated, and Big TV also plans to have kiosks near popular pandals housing idols of Ganesh.

During the campaign the company will offer trade promotion programmes or incentives to distributors and retailers, to boost its retail presence by 20%.

Read more » Big TV Gears up for Ganesh, Adds 13 New Channels

Big TV Offers Free HD DVR with Samsung LED TVs

In its bid to promote the new high-definition digital video recorder (HD DVR), Reliance Big TV has joined hands with Samsung India, to provide this new service free on purchase of Samsung LED TV range.

Customers can also avail of two months of free silver pack subscription along with one HD channel without any installation or activation fee. The offer is available across India till September 15, 2010.

While recently Big TV also slashed the price of the HD DVR offering to Rs 4990 from the earlier launch price of Rs 7490 in May.

Speaking on the new offer, Umesh Rao, senior vice president, Reliance BIG TV said, "Our partnership with Samsung will take the television viewing experience to its next level. With HD transmission and digital video recording capability from Reliance BIG TV set top box, Samsung LED TV customers are set for a veritable treat in their living rooms."

Read more » Big TV Offers Free HD DVR with Samsung LED TVs

Big CBS Networks to Hit India

Reliance Big Tv and Cbs Networks, have joined hands to provide an equally owned joint venture, christened, Big CBS Networks. Big CSB Network is all set to launch a series of English entertainment channels that are customized for the Indian Audience.

The newly formed venture will launch three new English channels, that will be branded BIG CBS Prime that falls under the premium English general entertainment, while the next BIG CBS Spark, will be the countries first English youth channel and last but not the least BIG CBS Love, India's first English entertainment channel dedicated to the fairer sex.



The channels will begin to premier in the fourth quarter of 2010 with most of the content from the CBS catalogue. The Indian audience can expect to see programs like, Hawaii Five-0, the NCIS franchises, America’s Next Top Model, Survivor, 90210, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Frasier and Entertainment Tonight.

Tarun Katial, chief executive officer, Reliance Broadcast Network, said, "This is truly a landmark moment not just for us but the entire Reliance ADA Group. We are confident that our deep understanding of the Indian consumer's entertainment requirement and advertiser needs, coupled with CBS' reputation for creating superior content, will offer unmatched and pioneering entertainment to audiences in India."

Read more » Big CBS Networks to Hit India

Big TV's New Interactive Services - iMall & iHolidays

Big TV has expanded its interactive services portfolio to include 'iHolidays' and 'iMall', both targeted at providing users a complete experience of their DTH service.

iHolidays as the name suggests allows subscribers to search, view and book their dream holiday packages on the travel portal - Ezeego1.com, and also get affordable and discounted deals on international and domestic hotels.

While iMall is a dedicated shopping channel where users can choose from a range of products - jewelery, clothes for all occasions etc. - offered at special prices to BIG TV subscribers.

This service is in association with JPearls, one of the retail brands offering its customers to view and buy gold, diamond and pearl jewellery from the comfort of their homes.

Umesh Rao, senior vice president, Reliance BIG TV, said, "Going forward, we plan to build significant momentum in the VAS (value-added services) space. We are committed to bringing in enriched and differentiated content to delight our subscribers."

Read more » Big TV's New Interactive Services - iMall & iHolidays

Big TV to Show Marathi Plays

Tapping newer segments, Big TV will now air successful Marathi plays on its Choice Pay Channel for just Rs 25. The plays will be available to the subscribers all through July till August 10th. 2010.

The show includes works from Marathi Theater such as Purush, Raigada La Jevha Jaag Yete, Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoay, Hasva Fasvi, Ranaangan Tee Phool Rani, and Kusum Manohar Lele and many more.

Umesh Rao, Senior Vice President, Reliance BIG TV said, “This is a small initiative from our side to promote Marathi art and culture. This will surely open the doors for our audience to the wide and wonderful world of Maharashtrian theatre."

Read more » Big TV to Show Marathi Plays

Big TV Integrated under New Firm, Reliance Digicom

Reliance recently acquired Digicable, the cable television service provider, in an all stock deal, to form a new firm - Reliance Digicom. Big TV, IPTV and Reliance broadband services will be merged with Digicable.

The new entity, claimed to be the world's fifth largest cable television operator, will start with a subscriber base of 11 million homes.

Speaking on this occasion, Anil Ambani, Reliance Communications, chairman said, "The Digital TV and broadband space is poised for similar explosive growth in the years ahead. With this game-changing move, we hope to lead the next revolution in digital home entertainment in India by offering a world-class TV experience and ultra high-speed broadband capability to a billion people."

This acquisition will offer a wider reach to Big TV that is aiming to add five million new customers every year, along with access to ground digital cable distribution network to compliment Big TV's satellite distribution.

Read more » Big TV Integrated under New Firm, Reliance Digicom

LG TVs Bundled with Free Big TV Connection

Reliance Big TV has inked a deal with LG Electronics to provide customers with Big TV connection bundled with a 1-month free silver pack on purchase of select LG colour televisions.

However, the customers will have to pay Rs 399 as installation charges. This offer is launched across Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, and is valid till June 30, 2010.

Umesh Rao, senior vice president, Reliance BIG TV, said, "We are excited about this partnership that brings in a dramatic scaling of reach and unprecedented value proposition for LG customers. We will aggressively pursue cross-category alliances to reach out to a broader spectrum of end users."

Also in line with the launch of its high-definition set-top box (STB) with digital video recorder (DVR), Big TV is conducting in-shop display campaign in retail outlets across 100 cities. This includes demonstration units, array of merchandising aids and trained in-shop promoters who will communicate the features and benefits of its high-definition STB and DVR.

Read more » LG TVs Bundled with Free Big TV Connection

Big TV Launches High Definition STB with DVR

The wait is finally over. Reliance Big TV has introduced its high-definition set-top box (STB) integrated with digital live TV recording feature, across 100 cities in the country.

Priced at Rs 7490 and Rs 7990, this HD DVR set-top box offers five times clearer and sharper image quality with two million pixel resolution and digital surround sound effect.

The digital video recording includes features like pause, play, rewind Live TV, record a program while watching another channel, capability to record up to 200 hours of video programming, 3-in-1 universal remote to give its subscribers the advantage of using single remote to control three devices like the TV, set-top box and any other music player system.

Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance Big TV, explains, "This is India's first product with a dual benefit of High Definition viewing and Digital Video Recorder in a single Set Top Box. Further, Reliance BIG TV is the only service provider to offer recording capability upwards of 200 hours and a universal remote control which can manage up to 3 devices."

The pricing differs region wise, in the Southern market the entry offer is priced at Rs 7790 bundled with five months of value pack with a full bouquet of sports channels. While in other regions, Big TV is launching the entry offer at a higher price of Rs 7990. Under this offer, subscribers get three months of Diamond Pack bundled with HD National Geographic and 152 channels. The existing Big TV customers will benefit with an upgrade option from standard definition (SD) to HD DVR at the cost of Rs 5990, discount of Rs 1500.

To further extend its offering, Big TV is planning to introduce two new transponders in the next three months that will enable them to broadcast another 60 channels, including Big TV's HD movie and entertainment channels. BIG TV has also signed a HD content deal with National Geographic to telecast their programs in India, and is also in talks with various global HD content providers like CBS, ESPN, FOX News and Discovery.

Apart from this, Big TV plans to launch six new interactive services by this year. Its also open to diluting up to 20% stake to a strategic partner. Behl said, "We are open to diluting our stake up to 20 per cent to a strategic partner. In that case there would be possibilities of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) as well as other investors showing interest."

Read more » Big TV Launches High Definition STB with DVR

Big TV Partners with HomeShop18

Aiming to widen its reach, Reliance Big TV has added another channel in its package -Homeshop 18, India's 24-hour shopping channel. With this partnership, subscribers can shop from home, get different brands to choose from, free home delivery, and 15 day money back guarantee.

This adds up to the number of interactive features available on Big TV like - iStock, iCooking, iNews etc. Umesh Rao, chief marketing officer, Reliance BIG TV, said, "I am sure our viewers will benefit from their strong brand associations and it would be an added advantage to have them on our platform. Services like these will provide the right impetus for differentiation for us in the category."

These features will be offered on a high-defition (HD) platform soon, as Big Tv is planning to introduce an in-built Digital Video Recorder (DVR) with its HD set-top boxes. The company expects to add 10 to 15% of its 1.5 million subscribers in the HD segment by this year.

Rao further explained, "What is unique about our HD set-top box is that it will enable the subscriber to receive HD feed and record content from a single set-top box. The pricing will not be off the line with what other players are currently offering."

Big TV is not the only DTH provider that will be offering this service, others like Dish TV, Airtel are soon going to launch HD TV, while Sun Direct is the only operator at present that caters in this segment.

Big TV is also in talks with consumer durable companies to offer their product with HD LCD television sets.

Read more » Big TV Partners with HomeShop18

Big TV Joins Hands with Ezeego1 to Offer Travel Discounts

In its bid to gain visibility, Big TV is targeting newer markets with its aggressive approach. The company tied up with Ezeego1.com to offer its customers discounts on holiday packages, international air tickets and DTH connections.

Big TV subscribers will get an additional 10% discount on domestic and international hotels and holiday packages from Ezeego1. Similarly, travelers booking an international or domestic package on the travel portal get Rs 1000 off on BIG TV connection or if they book an international air ticket they can avail a discount of Rs 600 on the same.

In addition to these discounts BIG TV is also offering a three months silver pack subscription free. This offer is valid up till March 20th, 2010.

Apart from the travel segment, Big TV is also targeting regional content viewers in Maharashtra. Recently Big TV announced a new Marathi package consisting four Marathi channels - ETV Marathi, Zee Marathi, Star Pravah and Zee Talkies - for a monthly subscription of Rs 5 only if selected as a first language. Also added to the base packs are host of Marathi channels like IBN Lokmat, Star Majha, DD Sahayadri and Mi Marathi.

Big TV has bagged rights of late Marathi playwright, Pu la Deshpande’s stage plays, and also acquired rights of Marathi films such as Samantar, Paandhar, Housefull, Zapatlela, Aaplee Mansaa. The films will be priced at Rs 50 for a 24-hour view pass.

The company is investing nearly Rs 5 crore in its Marathi content showcase, considering that Maharashtra comprises nearly 20% of its overall customer base.

Read more » Big TV Joins Hands with Ezeego1 to Offer Travel Discounts

Big TV, Indiagames Tie-up Launches iGames

Taking a step ahead on the DTH platform, Reliance Big TV has tied up with Indiagames, a subsidiary of UTV, to provide popular games available on PC, web and other gaming platforms to its DTH subscribers.

Most of the games will be provided by Indiagames' partner, Oberon Media, US-based casual games specialist. Branded 'iGames', this interactive gaming series will include Galapago, Solitaire (with 4 different versions including Classic, FreeCell, Pyramid and Towers), MOODiES, Space MOODiES, Air Hockey, Darts and various licensed third-party games.

Sanjay Behl, CEO, Reliance Big TV said, "Our strategic tie-up with Indiagames signifies our focus to further enhance and monetize our VAS (value-added services) capabilities towards a profitable growth in the DTH business."

Currently, Big TV has range of free interactive services like iCooking, iAstro, iStock, iCricket, iNews and the introduction of iGames will further boost their VAS offerings. There are also plans to introduce local games like T20 cricket and Bollywood games like Chance Pe Dance, Kaminey, Jodhaa Akbar etc.

Big TV generates less than 5% of its overall revenue from VAS, and with iGames it aims to double the VAS contribution to 10%. According to company it will contribute over Rs 1 billion in the next 5 years.

Apart from this, Big TV has also joined hands with real estate developers to market its service in residential building projects. The company has signed multi-dwelling units (MDU) agreement worth Rs 20 crore with developers like Kalpataru, Super Tech Limited, Arihant Builders and Elysium Builders. This will expand Big TV's reach to commercial areas, new townships and residential complexes where a single antenna will provide connection to multiple households.

Read more » Big TV, Indiagames Tie-up Launches iGames

Reliance Big TV's Pongal Offer

To expand its grasp in southern India, Big TV has launched a festive offer to attract more clientèle on the occasion of Pongal.

The offer that is valid only in Tamil Nadu features a 12 month subscription at a cost of Rs 2190 and the company claims to be handing out assured gifts with the connection as well.

This scheme comes with the bronze pack that includes 17 Tamil channels and a total of 118 channels.

Speaking about the offer, Nagarajan Kanthan, regional head - south, Reliance BIG TV said, “This offer is to spread festive cheer during Pongal. This offering signifies the companies constant endeavor to offer great value to its customers across Tamil Nadu.”

This offer is valid till the 15th of January 2010.

Read more » Reliance Big TV's Pongal Offer